Bangladesh seek revival after first Test flop vs Sri Lanka

Updated: 03 February 2014 13:04 IST

Bangladesh were annihilated by an innings and 248 runs inside four days in Dhaka last week, having been bowled out for 232 and 250 in good batting conditions in which Sri Lanka piled up 730-6, courtesy Mahela Jayawardene's 203 not out.

Written by Agence-France Presse

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Chittagong:

Bangladesh are looking for an all-round improvement as they attempt to bounce back after their massive defeat in the first Test against Sri Lanka when the second and final match starts in Chittagong on Tuesday.

The hosts were annihilated by an innings and 248 runs inside four days in Dhaka last week, having been bowled out for 232 and 250 in good batting conditions in which Sri Lanka piled up 730-6. Mahela Jayawardene led the way with an unbeaten double-century (203) and two others scored hundreds as Bangladesh conceded their highest Test total in another morale-sapping loss.

Bangladesh all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan said his team-mates had put the setback behind them and looked forward to playing a good Test on a good pitch at the Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury stadium. "Everyone was a bit down and sad after the loss in Dhaka, but they are fine now and focused on the next match," Shakib said. "Matches can go bad, but coming back is very important. (Also read: Jayawardene, Herath rested for ODI series)

"We have come back from situations like these before so we have that experience. But we have to improve in all aspects, especially the fielding."

Shakib said each of the high-scoring Sri Lankan batsmen, including Jayawardene, were let off in the field through dropped catches or missed stumpings. "Had we grasped those opportunities, they may not have scored more than 500 runs," he said. "And there is plenty of difference between 500 and 700. Those extra runs made it even more difficult for us."

Sri Lankan veteran Kumar Sangakkara expected another match-winning performance by his team, but refused to take victory for granted. "We're pretty much used to Bangladesh putting up a good fight," said Sangakkara. "They pushed us in the series in Sri Lanka and we walked away with a one-all draw in the one-dayers.

"We won't expect anything less than that from them here. The earlier game may have been easier than we thought it would be, but we expect it to be different here."

Sangakkara said the strategy of testing Bangladesh batsmen with short-pitched balls on the rock-hard wicket in Dhaka would continue if the pitch assisted the fast bowlers. "The wicket looks different from the one in Dhaka," he said. "But even on this track a short ball can be useful. If we do our basics well, we will continue to do well.

Sri Lanka have won 14 of their 15 Tests against Bangladesh, eight of them by an innings margin, and drawn the other. On their previous tour in 2008-09, Sri Lanka had won the first Test in Dhaka by 107 runs and the second in Chittagong by 465 runs.

Bangladesh, who languish at the bottom of the Test rankings at number 10 -- lower than unfancied Zimbabwe -- have lost 68 of their 82 Tests since gaining full status in 2000. They have won four Tests, two each against Zimbabwe and the West Indies.